"REFLECTIONS OF DOOM" 

I was 19 in 1987 and I'd been canned from yet another minimum wage gig. I imagined a big payday drumming with Samhain was imminent so I didn't care much about looking for a new job. So I loafed around Bergen County, New Jersey shopping for monster toys and dreaming of gold records until my savings finally ran out. When my entrepreneurial brain storm to cat-sit for Glenn Danzig didn't pan out (no joke) I took the first cash ($100) that another band threw at me in order to pay the rent. That band was Voice of Doom and it was a one-show one-deal type thing, and since Samhain bassist Eerie Von had help set it up I didn't feel I was being too disloyal or sneaky within Glenn's tight knit group. Even new Samhain guitarist John Christ, who was staying with me at the time, accompanied me to my first rehearsal. So, one chilly Winter night Voice of Doom guitarist/vocalist John Steel drove us to some basement in his red Camaro where we met with lead guitarist Frankie Fender, who ironically played a Gibson knock off, and mustachioed bassist Ricky who was yet to be christened with the uber-metal surname of BLADES. John had a Lilly Munster tattoo so we were best friends from "Yo". It was a motley bunch but we got down to business, quickly blasting through a set of original metal-tinged hardcore and a cover of "Symptoms of the Universe." I remember being especially sucky on the Sabbath song but we soldiered through, getting better and tighter with each subsequent jam session. 

To my surprise I was canned from Samhain right before my big show with Voice of Doom. I'm sure it was not directly related but in retrospect I feel it didnt help an already volatile situation that was ongoing with me and Glenn. The VOD gig was good and my rent got paid but I was quite bummed obviously. The Doom boys on the other hand were ecstatic and I was quickly deputized to member status. We went on to play the legendary CBGB's which was a thrill and I later recorded the super rare Faith Is Torn 7" with them. Eventually I got an offer to play with some more established lads in DC and I moved East to pursue that. 

What I thought initially was a quick cash grab with Voice of Doom turned into something I'm quite proud of and I'm especially grateful for the enduring friendship I've had with John all these years. 

John and Frankie have resurrected VOD this year with a new line up and some long awaited new songs. A very close chum of mine, Holeshot's Evilheim, is now on vocals and it's guaranteed to pulverize. I hope everyone enjoys their new tracks and I wish them the best of luck. It's been nice to reminisce about the good old times I had with this band. Much love to John and the boys! 

London May 
July 2014

Heim, London May, John Steele